We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maria Macsay. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maria below.

Maria, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

When I first started my business in 2020, my mission was to support women who were weighed down by their distorted relationship with food and their body to become free of their challenges so that they could regain their health, energy, and enthusiasm for their lives. I had become a Certified Eating Psychology Coach on the other side of my own healing journey from body dysmorphia, disordered eating, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and felt passionate about being a guide to women who were ready and willing to explore the mental, emotional, and spiritual root causes of their own challenges. This laid a foundation that is still at the bedrock of my mission — supporting my clients in becoming free of the stressors, traumas, beliefs, and behaviors that keep them separate from what they most desire so that they can embrace who they are, what they desire, and create a soul-led life they love.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Maria Macsay, a multi-passionate creative who is inspired by the wisdom of the body, the power of the mind, and the strength of spirit that we humans have access to. I got into the industry of wellness and personal development out of my own love for well-being, expansion, and empowerment, which quickly inspired me to share what I was discovering and learning with others.

Inside of my business I offer 1-to-1 Coaching, Group Programs, and Courses, all designed to support my clients in holistically creating change that aligns them with the health, relationships, and career of their dreams. The clients I’ve had the humble honor and joy of working with have either come to me during a season in their life where they felt stuck and unclear, or were simply ready to elevate to their next level of growth and possibility.

A big component of my work is that of working with the unconscious mind where 95% of our behavior comes from. Many people may have the desire to make a change in their life or reach a goal, but find that they end up looping in similar patterns, not because they don’t really want to have success, but because the unconscious beliefs that they aren’t aware of are keeping them stuck. Through my trainings in Mental & Emotional Release® & Hypnosis as well as my Somatic Facilitation training, I help clients get to the root cause of what’s been holding them back so that they can be free to create their heart’s desires.

I am also the Co-Founder of Align & Allow Women’s Retreats, a global mission dedicated to embodied empowerment of all women through immersive International Retreats and local U.S.-based experiences with my business partner Linzee Belle. It is our greatest joy to see women come back home to themselves, reclaim their voice, stand in their power, and actualize the life of their dreams.

I continue to be humbled by the tools, techniques, and teachings that I get to share with clients that have made a major impact in their lives; seeing clients transform themselves and their lives is a huge joy and great honor.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

At one point, I really believed in the notion of “mind over matter’. What I came to find is that the mind is one part of us, and while it is powerful, when we leave the body out, it will find a way to grab our attention. I’ve learned that the sensations, signals, and symptoms that arise in the body are not the body working against us, but rather, are a part of an intelligent response that is ultimately attempting to guide our attention back to ourselves to listen to the messages and inner guidance. Our body is always communicating truths with us and when we learn how to use how our mind to decipher these messages, we can unlock personal wisdom that has the potential to guide us in the direction of great health, well-being, purpose, and joy. I’ve had the opportunity to learn this lesson through my own health and digestive challenges over the course of my life and continue to be humbled by the grace that arises when we can slow down, tune in, listen, and receive the inner-knowing that is always here for us.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner in Align & Allow Retreats and I met when we were just 12 years old in a dance class. We became inseparable very early on through the end of high school. At that stage our life path’s went in different direction but our bond remained strong. Without intentionally planning it, in our 20’s we both ventured onto the path of becoming Yoga Teachers and Coaches for Women. As our similarities continued to grow within the field of work we had chosen, we followed our big dream of hosting retreats, and doing it together. It’s been an incredible ride so far. We are so grateful to every woman who has ever joined us on a retreat, and are very excited for all that’s to come — we’ve only just gotten started.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mariamacsay.com
• Instagram: @mariamacsay
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-macsay/

Image Credits
Photo Credit – Brittany Moberg | IG: @brittanyxchase